Sri Lankan Parliament Passes 22nd Amendment to The Constitution

The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution presented to the Sri Lankan Parliament by the government which proposed establishing Independent Commissions and banning Dual citizens to hold any positions in the government and enter parliament, has been passed with a majority of 178 votes yesterday (October 21).

During the vote 178 MP’s had voted in favor of the Amendment and the MP Attached to the governing Sri Lanka Progressive Party Sarath Weerasekara had voted against it, 26 MP ‘s including former President and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakshe and leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) R,Sampanthan were absent during the vote.

Opposition parties including the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Party, leftist National Peoples League and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) had voted in favor of the amendment.

The debate on the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was held on October 20 and yesterday (October 21). Under the amendment, the President will be able to dissolve the Parliament after it completes a term of two and half years.